WWE Bragging Rights Preview: Eight Reasons LayCool Will Top Natalya
Yesterday, I wrote an article surmising what I believe will happen in the Unified Divas Championship match between LayCool and Natalya at Bragging Rights on Sunday. Today, I bring you the slideshow series of this event and break down eight reasons why LayCool will walk out still champions. Sit back, grab yourself a snack or drink, and enjoy.
There is Safety in Numbers
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One huge advantage LayCool have on their side going into this big title match is that they are a duo. Neither Layla nor Michelle McCool seem to go anywhere without the other, especially when the championship is on the line. They know there is safety in numbers. When Michelle competes, she has the confidence of knowing that Layla will be right there at ringside, backing her up.
Michelle McCool is Always Booked Super-Dominant
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again—Michelle McCool is typically booked to look extremely dominant in her matches. Regardless of whether she's competing solo or in a tag team, she dominates her opponent more often than not. Moves like her big kick put the opposition out like a light switch being flicked off. I don't see her being booked to look any less dominant just because she will be facing the amazing talent that is Natalya.
Natalya Has Been Too Dominant Thus Far
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So far, throughout the three weeks during the feud between Natalya and LayCool, the third-generation diva has been dominant. She has had the upper hand each and every time the three have met, foiling attack attempts left and right, even without the help of other divas. This past Monday on RAW, and in front of Natalya's hometown crowd of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Michelle managed to sneak into the ring and lock her in a sharpshooter. However, the number one contender reversed it in a hurry.
Natalya has gotten too many "last laughs" on LayCool to end up with a victory on Sunday, if the WWE utilizes their usual formula.
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Natalya Will Not Have Help
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Although she honestly doesn't need anyone's help in winning a match, Natalya will not have her fellow face divas in her corner at Bragging Rights. At last week's RAW, the Bella Twins, Gail Kim, Melina, and Eve all came to her aid when LayCool attempted to attack her. Unlike Melina's title defense at Night of Champions, the championship match this Sunday is not going to be of the lumberjill variety, so Natalya will have to go it alone and won't have any allies in her corner.
LayCool Sometimes Cheat to Win
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On occasion, LayCool will—to borrow a phrase from the late, great Eddy Guerrero—cheat to win. Or, if they don't do that, they will resort to a deliberate disqualification to retain the championship. Since they are a packaged deal, when one in is a singles match, her opponent should expect the other to lend a helping hand. At the last pay-per-view, Hell in a Cell, Layla removed her shoes and threw them into the ring when she saw McCool was in trouble.
Most likely, they won't get disqualified at Bragging Rights, but they may engage in some type of cheating maneuver. I can see Michelle pulling out a foreign object to use while Layla has the referee distracted. It may not be honest, but it's certainly effective.
Perhaps We'll See a Deliberate Countout?
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Aside from cheating to win, it is a possibility that we might see LayCool deliberately getting counted out to retain the Unified Divas Championship. Others have resorted to this sneaky tactic before, so it wouldn't be too surprising to see the "Flawless Ones" do the same.
WWE Prefers to Have a Babyface Chasing the Title
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A lot of the time, it appears that the WWE prefers to have a babyface chasing the title rather than as champion. Yes, we have a babyface WWE champion at the moment in Randy Orton, but he is in the minority and is more of an antihero type than a full-fledged good guy. It makes the majority of fans want to root for the face character that much harder.
It also seems that the company wants to draw the feud out a bit longer when you have a heel champion and the "good guy" is chasing after their dream. I believe this to be the case here. Natalya won't win on Sunday, but she will continue feuding with LayCool and eventually capture, or, more aptly, net, the butterfly. Possibly, that will happen on RAW the night after Bragging Rights or at Survivor Series.
Let's Not Forget the Glamazon!
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Conversely to what I said in the last slide, perhaps the WWE really has no intention of giving Natalya the championship just yet. Let's not forget that Beth Phoenix will be returning from her knee injury very soon, and needless to say, she will be gunning for LayCool!
The Glamazon was subjected to annoyance after annoyance back in the spring at the hands (and mouths) of LayCool. Tired of their bullying behavior, she came to the aid of Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, and Tiffany. At Extreme Rules, in an Extreme Makeover match, she defeated Michelle McCool to capture the Women's Championship. However, mere weeks later, she dropped the title to Layla in a one-on-two handicap match due to her injury. It's only natural that she will make her comeback and want to take out Layla and Michelle, and take away the Unified Divas Championship in the process.
That does it for this slideshow. Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone enjoyed it!
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